View Full Version : Alternatives to treating eczema?
karolyp
08-08-2007, 03:05 PM
My DS hasn't been diagnosed with eczema (we do have an apt tomorrow morning though), but he seems to have super sensitive skin and has dry, red, rashy, itchy patches all over his face and upper torso and I think that's what it is. Anyhow, I've searched the BBB and saw that Cetaphil cream, Eucerin cream, and Aquaphor are highly recommended. However, the main ingredients in those products are petroleum (sp?) and mineral oil, which does concern me somewhat. So I was wondering if I should just go ahead and try these products, or if there was anything else out there that might work better? I have been slathering him with olive oil, and it's helping somewhat, but is there was anything else I could try?
Oh, and all of his stuff gets washed with all clear detergent. And he's on probiotics too.
Thanks everyone!!!
bubbaray
08-08-2007, 04:39 PM
OK, I'm risking flaming here, but with DD#2, we tried the all natural approach (using grapeseed oil instead of EVOO, but same idea). I wanted to avoid corticosteroids and petroleum products. Well, 6 dr's (and a naturopath) later, ALL of whom chastized me for using the grapeseed oil as any cooking oil could be allergenic AND all of whom told me that petroleum products are the best moisturizer for eczema.... We are using a very strong cortisone (beta methasone) ointment and alternate between aquafor and vaseline, bathing with cetaphil. She also ended up on 2w of Keflex because it took THREE months to find a pediatric dermatologist (12 hrs after we started the derms treatment, DD#2 was basically healed).
I would try the petroleum products, especially if its "just" patches and not covering his whole body (as it was on my DD). We went through three months of sheer hell that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy with screaming 24/7.
You could try double rinsing his laundry and using vinegar in the final rinse. You should also wash all your laundry in the same as his so that he's not rubbing his face and body on your clothing that has a residue on it. Also, don't use any sort of fabric softener. All of our dr's were in agreement on the laundry stuff.
HTH
Melissa
DD#1: 04/2004
DD#2: 01/2007
We have been using Cerave Cream for my daughter and it is doing a good job. A dermatologist friend of mine recommended it to us. We have tried: emu oil, aquaphor, cetaphil, eucerin, Aveeno creamS, Wedela baby cream ( I still use that occasionaly, as well as Shikai dry skin therapy...), and many others that I'm sure I'm forgetting.
We also had to 'break down' and use some steroid cream (0.5%) for a couple of days to calm things down before the 'moisturizing-only' really worked.
In addition, we altered our eating, laundering and bathing ways, saw a homeopath, an allergist, got soft water and run our whole house air cleaner a lot more.
Good luck. It's so hard when your little one is suffering eczema.
MommytoDylan
08-08-2007, 05:49 PM
My daughter's full body eczema went away in one week after starting a nutritional supplement called Ambrotose. Prior, we tried the creams, opening primrose oil capsules and rubbing, and elimination diets.
Ambrotose is from a multi level marketing company so I hesitate to recommend it but it stopped both of my kids from wheezing too. No more asthma or meds. And, no, I don't sell the product.
Just my story...
Meredith
karolyp
08-08-2007, 08:32 PM
No flaming here! I thank you for responding, and the others, for taking the time to respond!
713abc
08-08-2007, 09:07 PM
My DS has mild eczema and I was wondering what is concerning about using petroleum products?
Thanks!
gatorsmom
08-08-2007, 09:22 PM
We use free and clear detergents and soaps. I try not to bathe my DS2 too often since that exacerbates it. We use hydrocortisone cream to tame it down (we use these as sparingly as possible since they are steroids) and then Aquaphor to keep it under control. That's the only thing that works for us.
DS2's eczema almost disappears in the winter. But in the summer, especially when he sweats, it's really hard to keep under control.
Lisa
Mom to Gator July 2003
And Cha-Cha July 2005
and surprise! twins due 11/07!
I have tried all the below in hopes of avoiding hydrocortisone but have to resort to it when my dd's eczema flares up. I have expressed my concern many many times to my dd's pediatrician about using it, but he tells me to use the cortisone creme to control the red raw patches until it clears up and then to control it with moisturizers.
-aquaphor
-mustela
-aveeno
-eucerin
-cetaphil
-boo and noodle
We've even had a water softener installed, but I've found nothing really works well enough. I'm just hoping my DD will grow out of it. My mother insists that I am to blame for it because I ate shellfish when I was carrying my DD. Has anyone else heard of this?
writermama
08-09-2007, 07:21 AM
" My mother insists that I am to blame for it because I ate shellfish when I was carrying my DD. Has anyone else heard of this? "
Ok, that's a new one to me. You can tell your mom that my child has eczema -- is currently in a 2 month long head to toe outbreak -- and I haven't eaten shellfish since about 6 months before I got pregnant with her.
I could see making a tenuous link between your eating shellfish and your child having a specific shellfish food allergy ... or possibly if you ate shellfish with some kind of heavy metal contamination because some contaminants cause skin issues at their lower levels ... but that's still pretty thin.
brittone2
08-09-2007, 09:25 AM
Not sure how into alternative stuff you are, but there's a great thread on Mothering.com under Health and Healing about healing the gut. You might want to look into probiotics.
Happy 2B mommy
08-09-2007, 10:25 AM
I used the aquaphor and it really didn't help-it just made DD break out. I have had luck using the baby Aveeno stuff. There is petroleum in it, but the Aveeno doesn't make her break out. I also did not bathe DD often, but I have found that a cool, 10 minute bath everyday or every-other day with 1/2 pack of the Baby Aveeno oatmeal bath does wonders. I take her out of the bath and slather her up right away with the regular baby Aveeno moisture lotion.
I also use the JASON vitamin E cream when there is a bad flare-up. No petroleum, but I do use it sparingly because I didn't check with my ped. My ped just recommended Hydrocortizone cream, but I don't like using that unless I absolutely have to.
I also strongly agree with the double rinse and using vininger. That was the first thing I tried and it helped immensely. DD went from having several patches all over to only 2 patches!
Nordic Naturals cod liver oil. My youngest gets 1 teaspoon every morning and at night we apply organic, unrefined coconut oil to his legs where the patches tend to come up. But by far what has made the patches disappear is the cod liver oil
karolyp
08-09-2007, 12:41 PM
Is the cod oil safe to use on infants?
Also, I know oatmeal works wonders on my own skin - but is that safe to use for infants too?
karolyp
08-09-2007, 12:43 PM
I could be wrong, but from what I've read, the petroleum products can cause skin to become "addicted" to it. Kindof of like how some people are addicted to chapstick, kwim?
karolyp
08-09-2007, 12:49 PM
Well - it was confimed today that he does have it, although the ped thinks that it's allergins outside (and not something that I'm eating) that are triggering the outbreaks since it's not spread all over his body. He told me to go ahead and use the eucerin cream 2x a day, put lotramin on his neck because he's got a fungal infection there in the folds, bathe him with dove, rinse his stuff twice, give benedryl if he's itching really bad, and clothe him as lightly as possible bc the immense heat we're having here in FL is probably aggrevating it as well.
Anyhow, I just wanted to thank you all for your input. This is a whole new ball game for me as my DD didn't have skin issues as an infant.
my second son wasn't diagnosed until after his first year but the nordic naturals brand is pharmaceutical grade CLO that is independently tested so I don't deviate from that brand. Also, our pediatrician is naturally inclined so she set the dosage. I was already giving the CLO to my 3 year old since he was 2 for immune boosting properties and I take it for mood and health supplementation. Now we're all on it and definitely notice a difference when we don't take it.
If I go more than a couple of days because I've run out his patches flare up with a vengeance. But after about 2 weeks on it his patches are gone and as long as I continue he does well with no flare ups. I've heard sometimes dairy can be a culprit but we haven't had the inclination to go dairy free and have done just fine with the CLO and the coconut oil (btw, it's really a solid until it hits 76 degrees so it melts in your hand).
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.5 Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions Inc. All rights reserved.